stagnate

verb

stag·​nate ˈstag-ˌnāt How to pronounce stagnate (audio)
stagnated; stagnating

intransitive verb

: to become or remain stagnant

Examples of stagnate in a Sentence

a puddle of stagnating water
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When employees fear punishment for unsuccessful initiatives, innovation stagnates because everyone is afraid to take even reasonable risks. Elaine Pulakos, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025 And access to benefits that could reduce burnout, such as flexible scheduling or mental health care, has stagnated or even declined this year; for example, access to reduced or flexible hours fell 2.2% year over year, and work from home by 1.7%. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 July 2025 Growth in bilateral trade between China and Russia stagnated in 2024 and declined by almost ten percent in the first half of 2025. Da Wei, Foreign Affairs, 29 July 2025 Despite decades of promises, the recycling rate for plastic waste in the U.S. has stagnated at 5-6%. Chelsea Linsley, Mercury News, 29 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for stagnate

Word History

Etymology

Latin stagnatus, past participle of stagnare, from stagnum body of standing water

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stagnate was in 1661

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stagnate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stagnate. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

stagnate

verb
stag·​nate ˈstag-ˌnāt How to pronounce stagnate (audio)
stagnated; stagnating
: to be or become stagnant
stagnation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on stagnate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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